Robot Punch!: News Edition

Spider-man! Spider-man! Does whatever a spider can! Like piloting giant robots to fight space monsters. Wait, what?!?

This week on Robot Punch!, we hit some of the fun highlights in recent anime news. There’s details on a Professor Layton movie, a life-sized Gundam replica, and of course…how Japan does Spider-man. Prepare to see your favorite childhood heroes in a whole new light…

Professor Layton Animated Movies In Production

Coming to Japan in January 2010 is the first animated film based on the Professor Layton puzzle video game series. The movie has been simply named Professor Layton: The First Movie, with the implication—as was done for the Pokemon movies—that there are more films to come, though the official story’s much-more-interesting title is Professor Layton and the Eternal Songstress.

The official site for the movie launched earlier this month and you can catch the two 30-second teaser trailers. PA Works, the animation studio that produced the animated cut scenes for the original games will also work on the film. Professor Layton and Luke’s voice actors from the games will also return to reprise their roles.

Watch The Japanese Live-Action Spider-Man For Free!

Why, Japan? What did Spider-man do to you that you had to turn him into…this?

Some 30 years ago, Japan produced a live-action television series based on our favorite web-head. Before you get excited, keep in mind that this Spider-man has been run through the typical Japanese interpretation. As such, this show is at its core Power Rangers…but with Spider-man.

This is your cookie cutter sentai show. Japan excels at finding a formula that works and running with it across the board. In fact, Spider-Man Tokusatsu is credited for being the one that started them all. Thanks, Spider-man. (“Everybody gets one.”)

Here’s a synopsis of the first episode:

FAIL.

A spunky young dude with a motorcycle uses his special bracelet to morph into Spider-man in order to defeat an evil alien force bent on claiming the Earth. And maybe avenge his father, a renowned scientist killed in the first episode. The bracelet was given to him by a dying old man; the last survivor of…*sigh*… Planet Spider. Planet Spider was conquered by the same, um…Iron Cross Group now invading Earth, lead by their overlord…*groan*… Professor Monster.

As the formula goes, Spidey fights a precursory putty patrol before the monster-of-the-week main course is served. The monster grows to gigantic size, so Spider-man summons his space ship, the Marveller (get it?), which transforms into his megazord robot, Leopardon.

Form blazing sword. Big explosion. “I’ll get you next time, Gadget!” Roll credits.

If you’d like to get in on the laughs, Marvel is now streaming the show, one episode per week, on their website for free. My favorite part: Spider-man refers to himself as “the emissary from hell”.

Holy crap. Life-Sized Gundam.

In honor of Gundam’s 30th anniversary, a 59ft tall “life-sized” Gundam statue has been commissioned for construction to be displayed in Tokyo this summer. This RX-78-2 Gundam model replica’s head will move and the body will be equipped with lighting and mist effects.

A 1/1 scale statue of the same model Gundam had been built before for the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park to promote Gundam Crisis, but this is new project will be the first where the robot is standing upright.

As much as otaku would like to establish a permanent mark as monument to our subculture, the statue will only stand for 2 months. Gundam’s handlers, Bandai Namco, has no idea what they’ll do with the statue after that period is over, so I’m curious which high-rolling fanboy will place a bid for the world’s most awesome lawn ornament.